Convertible light



CONVERTIBLE LIGHT BY W I! ATTORNEY.

Filed Aug. 13, 1938 beam projector to eithera dimmed or colored lightcomprises, broadly, an outer shell A; the usual 25 Patented June 4, 1940UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE LIGHT Clifiord Sklarek, LosAngeles, Calif.

Application August 13, 1938, Serial No. 224,765

Claims. (01. 240-45) This invention relates to improvements in conlightinterceptor and, more particularly, a freely vertible light, and thepresent application is a adjustable connection between the push and pullcontinuation in part of the subject matter diswire and the interceptorwhich will positively closed in co-pending application No. 140,377,filed eliminate binding, kinking, or other difficulty dur- 5 May 3,1937, for improvement in Convertible ing the adjusting operation. 5 spotand fog light. Other objects of the invention will more clearly In theoperation of automotive vehicles, and appear from the description andclaims hereinmore particularly automobiles and trucks, it is afterfollowing. highly desirable to have available, in addition to In thedrawing forming a part of this specifithe usual white beam headlights,what are cation, Figure 1 is a part vertical, sectional view, 10 knownas fog lights because of the more effective part elevational View withportions broken away illtuninating capacity of the usual fog amber lightto better illustrate certain details of construction, in foggy weatherthan that of the usual white of a light embodying the invention. Figure2 is light. Heretofore, it has been the general custom a vertical,transverse sectional view, correspondto meet this desideratum byemploying fog lights ing substantially to the section line 2-2 of Fig-15 which are separate from and independent of the ure 1. And Figure 3 isa detail sectional view, usual headlights with the obvious disadvantagesupon an enlarged scale, illustrating more particuof extra expense, extraequipment and, in many larly the connection between the operating pushinstances, detraction from the appearance of the and pull wire and thelight interceptor.

vehicle. In said drawing, the particular type of light 20 One object ofthe present invention is to prochosen for illustration is that of aheadlight for vide a unitary light for automotive vehicles, anautomobile adapted to be secured to any conwhich light may bepractically instantly convenient part thereof, such as the fender, aporverted or adjusted from the usual white light tion of whichisindicated at ID. The light proper beam projector and vice versa,whereby that type lens B; a reflector C; light bulb D; light interoflight beam most desirable, eflective and safest ceptor E; and push andpull actuating wire F.

at any given time under any particular driving The shell A is adapted tobe secured to the I conditions, may be availed of by the operator offender I'll or other portion of the vehicle by any the vehicle. suitablemeans, such as the bracket ll indi- 30 Another object of the inventionis to provide cated conventionally and nut and bolt l2 and I 3. aconvertible light of the type indicated in the The lens B, which shallbe of the usual transpreceding paragraph, wherein the structure isparent characteristic, is secured to the shell A such as to insure andmaintain an absolutely by suitable means, such as the clamping ring 5fixed focus of the light bulb with respect to the M with an annulargasket 5 interposed between reflector at the time of assembly andapplication the edge o the lens and a peripheral flange "5 to the carand, more specifically, to form a flat fo m d On t e efiflCfiOl C. seatfor a fixed focus type of bulb, which seat is The Construction Of thereflector C is of 1 preferably made integral with the reflector. a yimportance in su a s ut ly fix d 4,0 Still another object of theinvention is to focus of the light bulb, while at the same time providea convertible light of the type indicated, p rmi nv r n f h li h fromone yp wherein the conversion of the light beam from of em tted lighteam to a difierent kind. To one type to another may be effective by theopthis end, the reflector C is provided with a reerator from his usualdriving position in the vefleeting portion p p which y be of p hicle,-asby means of a push and pull wire, the bolic or other suitable shape, anda preferably 45 construction being further characterized by theintegrally formed and a realWardly extending fact that the light beaminterceptor or converter section consisting Of an Oute y ca S eeve ofthe light is given a combined lengthwise and I 8 and a p concentric,inner y ri l rotative movement during adjustment to theresleeve l9, thesleeves being integrally united by by insure both ease of adjustment andretention the transverse section indicated at 20-. At its 50 of theinterceptor in its adjusted position without front forward the innerSleeve l9 has so danger of displacement from vibration. integrallyformed therewith an inwardly extend- A specific object of the inventionis to provide ed. annular flange 2|, the plane of the flange 2| simpleactuating means, operable from the inbeing slightly inwardly locatedwith reference to 5 strument board of the vehicle, for adjusting the thecurved surface (if continued) of the reflecting portion E1 of thereflector, all as clearly shown in Figure 1. The outer sleeve 18 hasalso formed therein a generally longitudinally extending but helicalslot 22.

By constructing the reflector C in the manner shown and described, whichmay be done by suitable die operation, not only may the location of theflange 22 with reference to the focus of the reflecting portion ll beaccurately insured both at the time of manufacture and in assembling ofthe parts, but also the maintenance thereof in such accurately locatedposition is insured by the unusual rigidity of the entire rearwardlyextending section of the reflector C comprised of the two sleeves E8 andH3. As will be apparent, the integral connection 21" at the rear ends ofthe sleeves l8 and is, the annular flange 2] at the front end of thesleeve E9 and the junction of the outer sleeve i 8 with the reflectingportion ll, provide an extremely rigidified construction whicheliminates any possibility of displacement of the flange 25 withreference to the focus of the reflector in a direction axially of thesleeves, and also eliminates any possibility of vibration ordisplacement transversely of the axes of the sleeves i8 and E9. The samerigidity is important also in connection with the maintenance of theslot 22 in constant position at all times so as to prevent defectiveoperation of the actuating means, as hereinafter described.

The flange 25 provides a fixed seat for a bulb socket base 23, indicatedconventionally, and which is secured to said flange 2! by a washer 2 1,collar 25, screws 25 and interposed springs 21 to permit of the usualbayonet slot type of attachment between the fixed focus type of lightbulb D and socket base. As will be appreciated, suitable insulation willbe employed to prevent grounding with the flange 2i and the currentsupply wires 28-28 may obviously be entered through the rear of thesleeve section l8|9 and attached in the usual manner to the base socketSlidably mounted lengthwise in the space provided between the twosleeves l8 and I9 and preferably guided by the outer sleeve I8, is thelight interceptor E which, as shown, preferably consists of a sheetmetal tubular section 29 and outer cylindrical glass section 39, thelatter being telescoped within the former and suitably cemented thereto.Preferably, the glass section is 1....iited in its telescoping withinthe section by the formation of an integral annular bead 3! formed inthe section 29. The combined length of the sections 29 and 35! of thelight int "ceptor and the extent of movement provided within the sleevesl8 and H) are such that, when the light interceptor E is in itsoutermost posit n, as shown in Figure 1, the glass section 39 willobviously be in a position to intercept the rays of light from the lightbulb D to the portion of the reflector C, and the interceptor E may beretracted so as to permit all of the light rays to pass freely to thereflecting section H, as will be obvious.

Preferably, the glass section 3! of the interceptor will either be madeof colored glass, such as amber i used for driving in fog, or otherdesired the improved light is employed for other purposes.Alternatively, the glass section 38 may be clearly transparent and asuitable color coating applied to one of the surfaces thereof. As willalso be apparent to those skilled in the art, the interceptor may beemployed for dimming purposes as Well as for converting the color of theultimately emitted light beam from the light.

By employing a clear transparent lens B and relatively thin lightintercepting section 30, a minimum reduction of efiiciency of theemitted colored light beam, when the latter is desired, is obviouslyobtained and one which is far more efficient than now obtainable in theusual type of fog lights wherein the lens corresponding to the lens B ofthe present invention, is usually of relatively thick amber glass. It isalso apparent that the light interceptor E may be adjusted to anyintermediate point between either extreme of movement, thus providingfor graduated shades between the extreme white light beam and maximumcolored light beam.

As hereinbefore indicated, the interceptor E is adapted to be actuatedpreferably by a push and pull wire F which, by being mounted within aflexible sheathing such as indicated at 32, may be extended to the usualinstrument board of the automotive vehicle (not shown) and thereactuated by the vehicle operator without leaving his usual driving seatposition. The end of the flexible sheathing 32 is secured to the shell Aand wire F entered therethrough by any suitable means, such as thewasher 33 and nut 34. Due to the fact that the portion of the actuatingwire which is within the shell A must necessarily be free to move bothlongitudinally and circumierentially of the sleeve section Ill-49 andnot being confined within a flexible sheathing at this point, it ishighly essential that the connection between the actuating wire F andthe interceptor E be not only freely adjustable, but such as topositively avoid kinking or binding. To insure -his result, the innerend of the wire F has secured thereto a fitting 35 provided With a ball35 which is received within a corresponding ball socket provided in abolt head 31. The shank of the bolt is extended through the slot 22 andthreaded into a suitably formed threaded female inturned flange 38 onthe interceptor section 29. A ring washer 39 is interposed between thenut end of the bolt 31 and the interceptor section 29,

said washer acting as a spacer between the nut section of the bolt andtube section 29 and also as an anti-friction bearing in the slot 22 ofthe sleeve 18. As will be understood, the ball 36 may be retained inplace by spinning the nut slightly thereover, as clearly shown in Figure3.

With the type of connection shown, universal adjustment is providedbetween the push and pull wire 16 and the interceptor E and bindingbetween any of the parts positively prevented, thus eliminatingpossibility of sticking or kinking or other defective operation. Theportion of the wire P which is between the nut 34 and fitting 35, asobvious, must flex or bend in a more or less complex manner whenactuating the interceptor but regardless of the manner in which saidportion flexes, the action will be freely accommodated by the ball andsocket connection 3631. The construction thus employed eliminates thosedisadvantages which would be inherent in rigid links and ordinary pivotconnections.

By employing the helical slot 22. it is apparent that the interceptor Eis given a rotative movement as well as an endwise movement, thus notonly facilitating ease of adjustment, but providing the means formaintaining the interceptor E in any adjusted position even thoughsubject to the usual vibration incident to vehicle operation.

Although the invention has been shown as applied to the usual head lampof an automotive vehicle, it will be obvious to those skilled in the artthat the improvements may be incorporated in other types of lights suchas spot lights, with out departing from the spirit of the invention.Further, various changes may be made in details of construction, and allsuch changes and modifications are contemplated that come within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a convertible light, the combination with a lamp shell having alens; of a reflector within the shell having a light reflecting portionand an integrally formed section extending rearwardly from the reflectorportion centrally of the latter, said formed section consisting ofspaced. outer and inner cylindrical sleeves united at their rear ends,the forward end of said inner sleeve having an inturned flange toprovide a seat fixed with reference to the focus of the reflectingportion; a bulb socket base supported by and at tached to said flangeand adapted to have a bulb attached thereto; a tubular, translucentlight beam interceptor movably mounted between lengthwise of saidsleeves and outwardly thereof to a position to intercept light rays fromthe bulb to the reflecting portion, said outer sleeve having a slottherein; and means for actuating said interceptor and engageable withthe latter through said slot.

2. In a convertible light, the combination with a lamp shell having alens; of a reflector having a light reflecting portion and section rigidtherewith and extending rearwardly from the reflector portion centrallyof the latter, said section comprising spaced, outer and innercylindrical sleeves rigidly united at their rear ends, the forward endof said inner sleeve having an inturned flange to provide a seat fixedwith referonce to the reflecting portion; a bulb socket base supportedby and attached to said flange and adapted to receive a fixed focuslight bulb; a tubular, light beam interceptor movably mounted betweenand lengthwise of said sleeves and to a position outwardly thereof tointercept light rays from the bulb to the reflecting portion, said outersleeve having a slot therein; and means for actuating said interceptorincluding a push and pull wire extending from the interior of the shellto the exterior thereof, and connecting devices between the end of saidwire and the interceptor extending through said sleeve slot, saidconnecting devices including a universal joint.

3. In a convertible light, the combination with a lamp shell having alens; of a reflector having a light reflecting portion and an integrallyformed section extending reerwardly from the reflecting portioncentrally of the latter, said formed section comprising spaced, innerand outer cylindrical sleeves integrally united at their rear ends, theforward end of said inner sleeve having an inturned annular flange toprovide a seat fixed with reference to the reflecting portion and focusthereof; a bulb socket base supported by and attached to said flange andadapted for the reception of a light bulb; a translucent, tubular lightbeam interceptor slidably mounted between and lengthwise of saidsleeves, said outer sleeve having a helical slot therein; a push andpull wire for actuating said interceptor operable from the exterior ofthe shell and extending thereinto; and means connecting the inner end ofsaid wire and interceptor including a ball and socket joint and anelement extending through said helical slot.

l. In a convertible light, the combination with a lamp shell having alens; of a reflector within the shell having a light reflecting portionand a section rigid therewith and extending rearwardly from thereflector portion centrally of the latter, said section consisting ofspaced, outer and inner cylindrical sleeves united at their rear ends,

the forward end of the inner sleeve having an inturned integral flangeto rigidify the section and provide a seat fixed with reference to thefocus of the reflecting portion; a bulb socket base supported by andattached to said flange and adapted to have a fixed focus bulb attachedthere to; a tubular light beam interceptor movably mounted between andlengthwise of said sleeves and outwardly thereof to a position tointercept the light rays from the bulb to the reflecting portion; anddevices for actuating said interceptor including a push and pull wireextending through the shell and means connecting the end of said Wirethrough the outer of said sleeves with the interceptor. I

5. In aconvertible light, the combination with a lamp shell having alens; of a reflector within the shell having a reflector portion andmeans, including a cylindrical sleeve, for retaining a light bulb, saidsleeve having a helical slot therein; a tubular light beam interceptorslidably mounted within said sleeve; a push and pull wire for actuatingsaid interceptor, said wire being entered through the shell and. havinga flexible portion in the space between the shell and said sleeve; andmeans connecting the inner end of said flexible portion of said wire andinterceptor including an element fixed to the interceptor and extendingoutwardly through said helical slot and a universal joint connectionbetween said element and said inner end of the wire, said element havinga combined spacer and anti-friction washer thereon located within thehelical slot.

CLIFFORD SKLAREK.

